Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike, has come out to deny reports that claimed he had converted to Islam.
He reportedly told his coach at Fenerbahce, Vitor Pereira, that he is now a Muslim.
Emenike was missing when the squad had breakfast on Saturday, prompting the manager to ask his whereabouts.
“I’m fasting,” he reportedly told Pereira, according to Turkish daily Fanatik.
Pereira replied: “You’re not a Muslim,” insisting that Emenike is a Christian.
In response, the former Spartak Moscow made it clear that “I became a Muslim, I am a Muslim.”
Emenike is not happy that his coach mistook his fasting for being connected to the ongoing Ramadan and has sought to clarify the situation.
“The report that I am now a Muslim is absolute rubbish and false. I want the source of the news to re-address it. I have no reason to convert to Islam even though I have lots of Muslim friends. Is there any big deal observing fasting during the (Muslim) fasting period?” he told AfricanFootball.com.
“I am very disappointed seeing the news going viral because it is something I told my coach in our conversation when he asked me a question and I never said I have become a Muslim. Fasting is not what everybody should know that you are doing and it’s very sad seeing this in the media.
“I am a Catholic, a strong one for that matter, and I came from Christian home. I don’t discriminate against anybody and I believe we are all equal in the presence of God, so what is the big deal in fasting? Does he know how many time I fast to get closer to God before the fasting periods? It’s really sad because I don’t see it as a big deal”.